Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security

NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) falls under the umbrella of
the government's medical research agency, the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). The NIMH is the branch of the NIH that focuses on the
brain, behavior, and mental health.

The creation of the NIMH in the 1940s ushered in a new approach to the
diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychologists began to realize
that mentally ill patients would benefit more from evaluation and
treatment than from institutionalization, and asylums were gradually
replaced by well-equipped, well-staffed mental health facilities. In 1946,
President Harry S. Truman signed the National Mental Health Act, which
redirected the funding and oversight of mental health programs from the
state to the federal level. The act also called for the establishment of
the NIMH to lead research efforts relating to the brain and psychiatric
disorders. The agency was formally established in 1949.

The NIMH became the foremost behavioral science and mental-illness
research center in the country and provided funding and training for state
mental health facilities. During the 1960s, the institute expanded its
offerings by establishing centers for the study of child mental health,
crime, urban mental health issues, and suicide. Alcohol and substance
abuse were added as separate areas of study in the late 1960s and early
1970s. Thanks to rapid expansion during the 1960s, the NIMH was separated
from the NIH and added to the newly established Health Services and Mental
Health Administration, but it rejoined the NIH in 1973.

Scientists at the NIMH use a combination of neuroscience, behavioral
science, molecular genetics, and brain imaging to delve into the
underlying physiological and genetic mechanisms that trigger mental
illness. Their aim is to discover ways to prevent and treat mental
illnesses through a combination of pharmacological and behavioral
therapies. The agency not only conducts its own laboratory research and
clinical trials, but also funds research by universities, private
companies, and individual scientists. The NIMH also provides educational
materials to patients, medical professionals, local governments, and
organizations around the country.

In 2003, the NIMH will conduct a study, following over 200,000 people
exposed to the ash and dust resulting from the destruction of the World
Trade center by terrorists in 2001. In one of the largest studies ever
conducted, the NIMH will observe patterns of illness and recovery among
the residents and workers of lower Manhattan. The NIMH also maintains
divisions that focus on preparing and coping with disasters and
emergencies.

█ FURTHER READING:

BOOKS:

Mintzer, Richard.
The National Institutes of Health.
Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers, 2002.